world's largest non-continental island, about 81% ice-capped, Greenland previously granted self-government in 1978 by Danish parliament. law went into effect following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.

Geography

Greenland

Location:

Northern North America, island between Arctic Ocean and North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

protection of arctic environment; preservation of Inuit traditional way of life, includes whaling and seal hunting

Geography - note:

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to limited settlements along coast, but close to one-quarter of population lives in capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap

none (part of Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
note: foreign affairs is responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland

National holiday:

June 21 (longest day)

Constitution:

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system:

Danish

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995)
note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit
election results: Hans ENOKSEN elected prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December 2002)
cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by Parliament (Landstinget) on basis of strength of parties
elections: monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually leader of majority party); election last held 3 December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2006)

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
note: two representatives were elected to Danish Parliament or Folketing on 20 November 2001 (next to be held no later than November 2005); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1
election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 28.7%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 25.5%, Atassut Party 20.4%, Demokratiit 15.6%, Katusseqatigiit 5.3%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 8, Atassut 7, Demokratiit 5, Katusseqatigiit 1
elections: last held on 3 December 2002 (next to be held by NA December 2006)

Judicial branch:

High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to Ostre Landsret or Eastern Division of High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)

Political parties and leaders:

Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark) [Augusta SALLING]; Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with no official platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party, a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Hans ENOKSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

NC, NIB

Diplomatic representation in US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to hoist side of center - top half of disk is red, bottom half is white

Economy

Greenland

Economy - overview:

economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support from Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues. public sector, includes publicly owned enterprises and municipalities, plays dominant role in economy. Despite several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is only sector offering any near-term potential, and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs.

GDP:

buying power parity - $1.1 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

buying power parity - $20,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.6% (1999 est.)

Labor force:

24,500 (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $646 million
expenditures: $629 million, includes capital expenditures of $85 million (1999)